How Do You Spell DRAWS BLANK?

Pronunciation: [dɹˈɔːz blˈaŋk] (IPA)

The phrase "draws blank" is commonly used to describe a situation where someone fails to remember or come up with an answer or solution. The spelling of this phrase is straightforward, with "draws" pronounced as /drɔːz/ and "blank" pronounced as /blæŋk/. The "a" in "draws" is pronounced as an open-mid back unrounded vowel, while the "a" in "blank" is pronounced as an open-mid front unrounded vowel. The "s" at the end of "draws" is pronounced as a voiced alveolar sibilant consonant.

DRAWS BLANK Meaning and Definition

1. To "draw a blank" refers to encountering a lack of knowledge, information, or memory about a specific topic or question. It typically involves a situation where someone's attempt to recall or understand something proves unsuccessful, resulting in a state of confusion or inability to provide an answer. This expression can be used both in literal and figurative senses.

   When used literally, "draws a blank" describes a circumstance where an individual is unable to recall a specific piece of information or detail. For instance, if someone is asked about a particular event but is unable to remember any details, they can be said to have drawn a blank on that specific question.

   In a figurative sense, "drawing a blank" signifies a lack of progress or success in a particular endeavor. It refers to an unsuccessful attempt to find a solution or generate an idea. For example, if a group of colleagues is brainstorming ideas for a project, and someone suggests a solution that turns out to be ineffective, it can be said that their suggestion drew a blank, meaning it did not yield the desired outcome.

   Overall, "drawing a blank" reflects a state of mental emptiness or a moment of uncertainty and confusion when faced with a lack of information, memory, or success in a given situation.

Common Misspellings for DRAWS BLANK

• dras blank
• drw blank
• draw blanc
• sraws blank
• xraws blank
• craws blank
• fraws blank
• rraws blank
• eraws blank
• deaws blank
• ddaws blank
• dfaws blank
• dtaws blank
• d5aws blank
• d4aws blank
• drzws blank
• drsws blank
• drwws blank
• drqws blank
• draqs blank

Etymology of DRAWS BLANK

The phrase "draws blank" is derived from the game of lotteries or raffles where participants pull out or "draw" a number or ticket from a container, hoping that it corresponds to a winning number or prize. In this context, "blank" refers to a ticket that has no winning number or prize associated with it. So, when someone "draws blank", it means that they have picked a ticket or number that is not a winner or does not yield the desired outcome. Over time, this concept of drawing a blank has been figuratively extended to refer to situations where one fails to find or achieve what they were searching for or expecting.